Duffy Daugherty Building expansion moving along on time

Jan. 30, 2008

Written by

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - Tangible progress is evident at the site of the expansion and renovation of the Duffy Daugherty Football Building:

 The $15 million project began seven months ago and is on course for summer completion. The main piece is the 25,000-square-foot Skandalaris Football Center, which will include new meeting rooms, coaches offices and a Hall of History. MSU alumni Robert and Julie Skandalaris donated $5 million of the $12 million needed for this phase of the project.

 The MSU coaching staff is expected to move from temporary trailers into new offices in July, and the building is expected to be fully operational by Aug. 1.

 Before the project began, the Duffy building was the oldest and cheapest in the Big Ten. It was state-of-the-art when it was built in 1980, at a cost of $1.75 million.

 The meeting rooms will enhance MSU's ability to prepare and teach, coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement. "The latest technology will be featured throughout the facility," he said. "We'll be utilizing some of the latest video technology, with the ability to convert plays on video into diagrammed plays for scouting purposes. In addition, this facility will house one of the largest computer servers on campus, allowing the coaches to access on the Internet: footage from every practice, MSU game video from the past five seasons, current opponents' game videos as well as video of nearly 1,000 recruits."

 The Hall of History will be a museum honoring MSU's past. "From a historical perspective, Michigan State is a top-25 football program, with six national championships," Dantonio said.

 In April, the Duffy weight room will increase from 9,000 to 16,500 square feet. The $2 million expansion is scheduled to be competed in mid-September.

 The final piece is the Perles Plaza, at the corner of Chestnut Road and Shaw Lane. Former MSU coach George Perles and his wife, Sally, contributed $500,000 of the $1 million cost. "It will be a great gathering place, not only on game days but throughout the week," Dantonio said.